Furnace burner radiation shield

Abstract

A burner system for a furnace. The system may have a wedged or other shaped burner box. An air-fuel mixer may be attached to a smaller end of the burner box at virtually any angle relative to a direction of a gas and air mixture leaving the larger box end. A burner head may be attached to the larger end of the box. The burner head may be sufficient for numerous heater sections of a heat exchanger. A spacer and a radiation shield may be situated between the burner head and heat exchanger. An addition of the radiation shield may reduce the operating temperature of the burner box, burner head and/or spacer. A fan may move the gas and air mixture from the mixer, through the box and the burner head. The mixture may be ignited into a flame which is moved into the heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A furnace burner system, for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanism (HVAC), comprising:
 a burner; 
 a spacer coupled to an output side of the burner; and 
 a metal radiation shield disposed inside the spacer and coupled to an input side of a heat exchanger, wherein the radiation shield separates the burner from the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the burner comprises:
 a burner box having an input coupled to a fuel mixture source; and 
 a burner head coupled to an output of the burner box and having the output side of the burner; and 
 
 the radiation shield is stamped or machined metal. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the radiation shield has a surface portion having openings that are aligned with conveyance channels situated in the heat exchanger; 
 the radiation shield has a side on the perimeter of the surface portion and protrudes perpendicular to and beyond the surface portion; and 
 the conveyance channels convey heat from the burner head, spacer and radiation shield through the heat exchanger to heat air flowing through the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an igniter situated between the burner head and the radiation shield; and 
 wherein the heat exchanger comprises a tube or clamshell structure. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the burner box is funnel-shaped and has a wider portion in a direction toward the burner head and a narrower portion in a direction toward the mixer. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the burner head comprises a FeCrAl alloy fiber mat. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a blower to provide a below atmospheric pressure in a plurality of sections of the tube or clamshell structure of the heat exchanger to move the gas and air mixture into the burner box and move a flame at the burner head through the radiation shield into the plurality of sections. 
     
     
       8. A furnace burner system for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanism (HVAC), comprising:
 a burner comprising a burner box having an input coupled to a fuel mixture source, and a burner head coupled to an output of the burner box and having an output side of the burner; 
 a spacer coupled to the output side of the burner; and 
 a radiation shield coupled within the spacer and to an input side of a heat exchanger, wherein the radiation shield separates the burner from the heat exchanger, wherein the radiation shield is fabricated from a refractory material; wherein 
 an area for each conveyance channel in the radiation shield ranges from 0.1 square unit to 2 square units; 
 a width of a surface portion of the radiation shield having an opening for each conveyance channel ranges from 0.3 unit to 2 units; 
 a length of the surface portion of the radiation shield having an opening for each conveyance channel ranges from 1 unit to 4 units per opening; 
 a thickness of the surface portion of the radiation shield having an opening for each conveyance channel is equal to or greater than 0.05 unit; 
 a height of sides approximately perpendicular to the surface portion of the radiation shield and situated on a perimeter of the surface portion of the radiation shield is equal to or greater than 0.05 unit; and 
 a thickness of the sides approximately perpendicular to the surface portion of the radiation shield and situated on a perimeter of the surface portion of the radiation shield is equal to or greater than 0.05 unit. 
 
     
     
       9. A furnace burner assembly comprising:
 a manifold box having an input port and output port; 
 an air-fuel mixer coupled to the input port; 
 a burner head coupled to the output port; 
 a spacer coupled to the burner head; 
 a one-to-multiple inshot metal radiation shield disposed inside the spacer; 
 a heat exchanger coupled to the radiation shield; and 
 wherein the burner head is separated from the heat exchanger by the radiation shield, wherein an addition of the radiation shield reduces an operating temperature of the manifold box, burner head or spacer. 
 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the one-to-multiple inshot radiation shield comprises a structure having one input opening and a plurality of output openings; and 
 each opening of the plurality of openings is aligned with and coupled to a first end of a conveyance section of a plurality of flame conveyance channels of a heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an air mover having an input connected to second ends of the plurality of sections; and 
 wherein: 
 an air tube is coupled to an intake of the mixer and to an air supply; 
 an output tube is coupled to the intake of the mixer and an output of the air mover; 
 the output tube comprises a flow limiting orifice situated in series with the output tube; and 
 the intake of the mixer is coupled to a fuel valve and fuel supply port.